Staten Island native is all fired up for TV show

VALLEYCREST/DISNEY/HEIDI GUTMANBriarcliff Manor, N.Y., volunteer firefighter and Staten Island native Peter Flihan will appear as a contestant tomorrow on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," the game show hosted by Meredith Vieira, right. The show airs on WABC-TV, Ch. 7, at 12:30 p.m.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Peter Flihan, a volunteer firefighter with the Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., Fire Department — he’s captain of the Hook & Ladder Company — and a Staten Island native, will be a contestant on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” in an episode airing tomorrow during American Pride Week.

The show’s specialty series continues through Monday, May 7, with a theme that’s devoted to celebrating everything that makes America great.

Flihan (that’s pronounced “flee-han”) is married to his wife Dina, a pediatric nurse at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, N.Y. They have two children — Emma, 17, and Joey, 15.

Born in the Grymes Hill section of the Island, Peter grew up in New Brighton. He is a 1982 graduate of Staten Island Academy.

Peter and members of his fire department attended the American Pride Week tapings along with two other upstate companies, Scarborough Engine and Briarcliff Fire Company, as well as members of their local ambulance corps, all of which are volunteer companies.

When asked about being a firefighter, Peter told Emmy Award-winning host Meredith Vieira: “It’s the greatest choice I ever made and I wish I’d done it years ago.”

Episodes airing tomorrow through Thursday will feature contestants pulled from a special studio audience filled with truly inspirational Americans: Members of the U.S. military, firefighters and teachers who will all be dressed in red, white and blue. Ms. Vieira will call down unsuspecting members of the audience, giving them the opportunity to play the game right on the spot and possibly walk away a millionaire.

During American Pride Week, Ms. Vieira is honored to give these distinguished Americans some well-deserved recognition and thank them for their contributions to our country.

On Friday, May 4, and Monday, May 7, Ms. Vieira will host American heroes of a different nature — U.S. Olympic medalists. Featured Olympians will include gymnasts Dominique Dawes and Jonathan Horton and Olympic swimmers Dara Torres and Ryan Lochte.

The Olympians will play “Millionaire” as two-person teams and will donate their winnings to the U.S. Olympic Committee. Each team is guaranteed to win a minimum of $10,000 for the USOC.